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drakaina16's reviews
2145 reviews
Found by Todd Rigney
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book is intense. The story follows Marty, a quiet, nerdy kid who is just trying to get by in life and school. Marty is obsessed with horror movies, and I found him very relatable in that aspect. Marty discovers his brother is a serial killer and things go seriously downhill from there. This is a tough read, and there are some massive triggers here, so tread lightly. I have a feeling I'm going to be thinking about this book for a long time. 5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Gore, Incest, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Cannibalism
Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I first read Cherie Dimaline when I read The Marrow Thieves, and I absolutely loved that book. I made it my mission to read everything she's written. Empire of Wild is the first adult book I've read by her, and it's everything I hoped it would be. The writing is tight and gorgeous, and although the story moves a bit slowly at times, it is never boring. The characters felt like real people to me, and learning more about the rogarou legend was super interesting. 4.75 stars
Bloody Hell: An Anthology of UK Indie Horror by Sarah Jules
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I had a great time with this anthology. There's no overarching theme - other than being from the UK - so these stories are a delightful grab bag of themes and tropes. The illustrations are beautiful and perfectly accompany each story. 4 stars
Hungry is Th’ Bodach by Dr. Stuart Knott ⭐⭐⭐.25
Darkness Blooms by David K Slater ⭐⭐
The Sleep Demon by Jessica Huntley ⭐⭐⭐
The Syn-Eater of Lancaster by MJ Mars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
To Be a Man of Man by J C Michael ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
The God Botherers by Ashley Lister ⭐⭐⭐.75
Wrong Lane by Stephen Barnard ⭐⭐⭐
The Hunt by EC Samuels ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Cynthraul by Lee Allen ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pergyl by C S Jones ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sounds of the Forest by Brad Thomas ⭐⭐⭐.25
The Dark Heart by Jim Ody ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Merry Bloody Christmas by Alexandra Nisneru ⭐⭐⭐.75
Murder in the Video Store by Bethany Russo ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Moor-Folk and the Poet by Philip Alexander Baker ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sand by David Watkins ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
The Joke by Tom Carter ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Brompton Road by Elizabeth J Brown ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Skate Bored by Tim Stephens ⭐⭐⭐.25
Bone Zipper by William Long ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plough Monday by Benjamin Langley ⭐⭐⭐.75
Memento Mori by Marie Sinadjin ⭐⭐⭐.5
The Mill of Shattered Bone by Mark M.J. Green ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Worst Halloween Ever! by M.L. Rayner ⭐⭐⭐.25
The Harlequin by Elijah Frost ⭐⭐⭐.5
Down T’Pit by Sarah Jules ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
They Stalk the Rows by Leigh Kenny ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Hungry is Th’ Bodach by Dr. Stuart Knott ⭐⭐⭐.25
Darkness Blooms by David K Slater ⭐⭐
The Sleep Demon by Jessica Huntley ⭐⭐⭐
The Syn-Eater of Lancaster by MJ Mars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
To Be a Man of Man by J C Michael ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
The God Botherers by Ashley Lister ⭐⭐⭐.75
Wrong Lane by Stephen Barnard ⭐⭐⭐
The Hunt by EC Samuels ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Cynthraul by Lee Allen ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pergyl by C S Jones ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sounds of the Forest by Brad Thomas ⭐⭐⭐.25
The Dark Heart by Jim Ody ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Merry Bloody Christmas by Alexandra Nisneru ⭐⭐⭐.75
Murder in the Video Store by Bethany Russo ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Moor-Folk and the Poet by Philip Alexander Baker ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sand by David Watkins ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
The Joke by Tom Carter ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Brompton Road by Elizabeth J Brown ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Skate Bored by Tim Stephens ⭐⭐⭐.25
Bone Zipper by William Long ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plough Monday by Benjamin Langley ⭐⭐⭐.75
Memento Mori by Marie Sinadjin ⭐⭐⭐.5
The Mill of Shattered Bone by Mark M.J. Green ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Worst Halloween Ever! by M.L. Rayner ⭐⭐⭐.25
The Harlequin by Elijah Frost ⭐⭐⭐.5
Down T’Pit by Sarah Jules ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
They Stalk the Rows by Leigh Kenny ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
The Poorly Made and Other Things by Sam Rebelein
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.
Edenville was one of the craziest books I read last year, and I mean that in the best way possible. I was seriously impressed it was a debut novel, and I was very excited to hear about the short story collection set in Renfield County. While I don't think it's strictly necessary to have read Edenville, it will add a lot of context and creepiness, and answer a few questions from the novel. 4.5 stars
Hector Brim ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
My Name is Ellie ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Detour ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wag ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Red X ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
10 PM on the Southbound G ⭐⭐⭐.5
So My Cousin Knew This Guy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Allison's Face ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
And Every Thursday We Feed the Cats ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Glitch ⭐⭐⭐.5
Interstitial/Epilogue ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Edenville was one of the craziest books I read last year, and I mean that in the best way possible. I was seriously impressed it was a debut novel, and I was very excited to hear about the short story collection set in Renfield County. While I don't think it's strictly necessary to have read Edenville, it will add a lot of context and creepiness, and answer a few questions from the novel. 4.5 stars
Hector Brim ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
My Name is Ellie ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Detour ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wag ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Red X ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
10 PM on the Southbound G ⭐⭐⭐.5
So My Cousin Knew This Guy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Allison's Face ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
And Every Thursday We Feed the Cats ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Glitch ⭐⭐⭐.5
Interstitial/Epilogue ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Disappearance at Devil's Rock by Paul Tremblay
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
No one does literary horror quite like Paul Tremblay. Those of you who are not a fan of the "Tremblay ending," and like your endings a little more unambiguous will probably enjoy this one more than his other offerings. I felt like I really knew these characters, and I hurt alongside them. There is sense of uncanniness and dread throughout the book. A Head Full of Ghosts still holds the Tremblay crown for me, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. 4.5 stars
The Women Without Eyes by Micah Castle
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
The Women Without Eyes is the third book I've read now by Micah Castle. While not my favorite, it is a worthy entry into his catalog. I'm a big fan of crime stories crossed with horror, and this book starts out as a fairly standard crime novel, then things start to take a supernatural bent. I was a bit confused in the last chapter leading up to the end, but ultimately, I enjoyed the ending. 4 stars
The Women Without Eyes is the third book I've read now by Micah Castle. While not my favorite, it is a worthy entry into his catalog. I'm a big fan of crime stories crossed with horror, and this book starts out as a fairly standard crime novel, then things start to take a supernatural bent. I was a bit confused in the last chapter leading up to the end, but ultimately, I enjoyed the ending. 4 stars
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
To Coventry: A Hummingbird Murder Mystery by T.C. Parker, T.C. Parker
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
4.25
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
I absolutely loved Hummingbird when I read it last year, so I jumped at the chance to read the followup. To Coventry is a fun love letter to the detective novels of yore. Nevermind that the protagonist is a shapeshifting demon. Sunny is a great character and I hope we'll be seeing more of her in the future. 4.25 stars
I absolutely loved Hummingbird when I read it last year, so I jumped at the chance to read the followup. To Coventry is a fun love letter to the detective novels of yore. Nevermind that the protagonist is a shapeshifting demon. Sunny is a great character and I hope we'll be seeing more of her in the future. 4.25 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Merfolk by Jeremy Bates
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I love a well-researched, scientifically plausible creature features and Merfolk delivers. The story is a bit of a slow burn as we get to know the characters and learn about the main character's theories about the possibility of merfolk being real. I found all the theory fascinating. Things really begin to pop off in the last 20% or so of the book, and I felt it was worth the wait. Merfolk was my first Jeremy Bates book and I'll definitely be reading more of his work. 4 stars
Osgood As Gone by Cooper S. Beckett
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
A beautiful cover, with a queer, polyamorous protagonist with chronic pain? Be still my heart. Luckily the book is just as good as the cover and the premise. What starts off as a simple mystery quickly evolves into some cosmic, occult-y goodness. The pacing is perfect, and I found myself staying up reading long past my bedtime. I can't wait to start book 2. 5 stars
A beautiful cover, with a queer, polyamorous protagonist with chronic pain? Be still my heart. Luckily the book is just as good as the cover and the premise. What starts off as a simple mystery quickly evolves into some cosmic, occult-y goodness. The pacing is perfect, and I found myself staying up reading long past my bedtime. I can't wait to start book 2. 5 stars
Creatures of Appetite by Todd Travis
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I stopped reading police procedurals because they tend to be so formulaic. Disgruntled, misogynistic officer of the law, paired with an eager-to-prove themself rookie. And honestly, this book is not much different. It is compulsively readable, however. I had it all figured out in the end, but the very last chapter actually surprised me quite a bit. I had already planned on reading the next book in the series, but that last chapter definitely hooked me. 4 stars